Welcome Step But DIfferent Reasons

Ceasefire Was Bound To Fail: Cpi-ML

The CPI(ML) today said the centre's unilateral ceasefire in J&K was bound to fail "without early resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and concrete steps of confidence building among the people of the troubled state."

"A negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute and any breakthrough in this regard cannot be achieved without early resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and honesty and sincerity of taking concrete steps of confidence building among people of the troubled state," party central secretariat member Ranjit Abhigyan said.

"Logical Step" says Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah termed the invitation from prime minister Vajpayee to Gen Pervez Musharraf as a "logical step in the peace process."

"This is the next logicial step in the peace process initiated by prime minister during Ramzan in november last year."

He said after all it was between india and pakistan to resolve the dispute.

"There is no role for any third party, be it a country or self-proclaimed representatives of people of Kashmir," abdullah said in an apparent reference to the Hurriyat Conference.

He expressed the hope that Gen Musharraf will indulge in a meaningful dialogue and make efforts for resolution of the dispute.

The chief minister also hailed the centre's decision to continue with K.C. Pant as the interlocutor on Kashmir and gave a call to all such Kashmiri youths who wanted to shun the path of violence to join the national mainstream.

"A Personal Success For Me": Shah

Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said the centre's decision to invite Pakistani military ruler gen.Pervez Musharraf for talks was his personal success. "The peace process set in motion by New Delhi will not succeed without involving Pakistan," Shah said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief said he had demanded involvement of Pakistan in the dialogue when he wrote to government's interlocutor K.C. Pant in response to his invitation for talks.

On calling off the ceasefire, he said "it will make no difference as it does not exist on the ground".

"Talks To Continue": Pant

Government's interlocutor on Kashmir K.C.pant tonight said the centre's decision to call off the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir would not affect the on-going dialogue process with Kashmiri groups.

"The process of dialogue with Kashmiri groups, including the secessionist leaders, for restoration of peace in the state will continue". Pant, who will soon visit the state, is expected to hold talks with Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Shah and former chief minister of the state G.M.Shah.

Kashmiri Pandits Hail Calling Off Of Ceasefire

Kashmiri pandits welcomed calling off of the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it had "failed to yield positive results".

"The experience during the past six months during which the ceasefire was in force has shown that it has failed to yield any positive results," Ramesh Manvati, spokesman of Panun Kashmir, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, told PTI in New Delhi.

He said in fact, the ceasefire had helped militants to regroup and attacks on security forces and civilians had increased.

Manvati said the security forces should now be given a free hand to deal with militants, particularly the islamic terrorists, to prevent islamisation of the state.

"A pro-active policy needs to be adopted if peace is to be restored in the state," he stressed.

He said though the centre had given an opportunity for restoration of peace in the militancy-torn state, "Pakistan and militants sponsored by it failed to respond positively.

Sangh Parivar Outfits Welcome Ceasefire Withdrawal

Sangh parivar outfits tonight welcomed centre's decision to call off the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded immediate termination of the dialogue with militant groups and a "free hand" to the security forces to restore peace in the trouble-torn state.

"The government has acted like a government. We welcome the centre's decision," a jubilant Acharya Giriraj Kishore, senior vice-president of the VHP told PTI.

He, however, said prime minister Vajpayee's decision to invite General Musharraf for discussions in New Delhi would be "an exercise in futility" keeping in view Pakistan's past role in fomenting trouble in the valley.

Kishore also demanded that security forces should be given a "free hand" to eliminate militancy and restore peace in the state.

Welcoming the government's decision, Bajrang Dal leader and member of parliament from Faizabad, Vinay Katiyar demanded immediate termination of peace talks with militant groups.

"We should talk only with nationalist groups and not with terrorists and separatists," Katiyar said.

He also demanded summary execution of all militants apprehended by security forces in the state.

The VHP and Bajrang Dal had along been opposed to the ceasefire and advocated a hardline on Kashmir.